Rescuers find six hikers, two dogs outside of Aspen

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Members of Mountain Rescue Aspen located six hikers and two dogs that reportedly had been overdue from a trip since Tuesday.

The hikers and dogs were found unharmed in the South Fork drainage near the Fryingpan River, according to a statement the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office issued Wednesday morning.

The Sheriff’s Office was notified around 9 p.m. Tuesday of the overdue hikers, believed to be on the Lost Man Loop, off Independence Pass.

A large ground search was put off because of darkness, but Mountain Rescue had two vehicle teams search roads in drainages commonly mistaken for part of the Lost Man Loop, the Sheriff’s Office said.

“Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind all hikers and backcountry travelers to prepare for unplanned events,” the statement said. “When traveling in the backcountry always carry extra water, food and clothing, know your route, carry a map and ensure that someone knows your exact travel plans.”